Ankle protection system for soccer shoes, football shoes, baseball shoes, speed skates skateboard and ice skates shoes

ABSTRACT

The ankle Protection system is conform by an integrated construction in the rear top of the shoe in form of a plastic cushioned shell, that provides protection to the ankle region against impacts in both sides of the foot. An attached flexible membrane positioned in the Aquilles tendon area of shoe system allows the full movement capacity of the foot. The system innovative construction provides a solution to a not seeing problem of injuries cause by impact forces during practice of contact sports. The system is created to avoid the problem of fractures, injuries, open cuts in the skin, bruces and swallows in the ankle region in athletes in the practice of specific sports such as Soccer, Football, Baseball, Skateboard and Skating.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present footwear invention provides a solution for a overseeinginjures problems in the ankle region, presented by athletes in thepractice of contact sports or others.

The Ankle protection system solve the problematic of direct impacts overthe foot surface (ankle), where the system receives the direct impactenergy over its own surface and absorb and distribute it equally.Therefore the injuries will have a less dramatic consequence or will benullify.

There are not proposed designs in the market place that approachprotection of this area. Most of the related products especially intherapy, which do not address problems in the sport field, only approachthe problem of ankle support or, where the main problems laid on anklesprains.

In Sports such as Soccer, Football and Baseball there are considerableinjuries (fractures), open cuts, in the ankle region as a result ofimpacts with other athletes and fast moving objects.

In Practice of Sports like speed skating, skateboard and ice skatingconsiderable injuries (open cuts) are also produce in the ankle regionmost of the time for friction against pavement, ice, metal, impacts withsolid objects, even though these sports are not in the category ofcontact sports and do not use long boots, because the sport requiresfull flexibility of the ankle region. Here laid the advantage of theproposed design, which provides protection without losing flexibility.

A new invention in the Sport field is needed to reduce ankle injuries inathletes. The innovative ankle protection system addresses this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide athletes incontact sports and other sports with a system that reduce or nullifyinjuries, fractures in the ankle region, by avoiding direct impacts ofsharp objects into skin and bones. The system will absorb the kineticenergy of the impact on its surface.

Therefore, an integrated construction for sport shoes, especially incontact sports brings an answer to the problematic.

The ankle Protection system its form by an integrated construction inthe rear top of the shoe in form of a cushioned plastic shell (plasticconvex Shell) that provides protection to the ankle region againstimpacts in both sides of the foot, providing at the same time fullmovement capacity. A flexible membrane positioned in the Aquilles tendonarea of shoe allows the full movement capacity of the foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Page 1. System Side view and cut view of the layered Protection shell.

Page 2. System Rear view. System Front view

Page 3. System Side view with version 1, Letter E

Page 4. System Side view with version 2, Letter F

Page 5. System Perspective view

Page 6. System Top view and Top view of external impact influences.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The ankle Protection system is conform by an integrated construction inthe rear top of the shoe in form of a plastic cushioned layered shellmaterial combination, that provides protection to the ankle regionagainst direct impacts. The system absorbs the kinetic energy of theimpact and distributes it equally over its surface with a variety oflayered materials under its convex form. An attached flexible membranepositioned in the Aquilles tendon area of shoe system allows the fullrange movement capacity of the foot.

The system is hold together to the foot using a Nylon strap attachment(elastic band or Velcro band) that is integrated to the plastic shelland provides adjustment to the system, adaptability of comfort and wrapsaround the lower part of Tibia and Fibula bones closing the system gripand stability.

The system provides a solution to avoid the problem of fractures,injuries, bruces and swallows in the ankle region in athletes forspecific practice of sports such as Soccer, Football, Baseball, Skatingand Skateboard.

The System provides protection against objects or impacts to the lowerpart of Tibia and Fibula bones of the ankle, thanks to a (plastic convexShell) form and material cushioned layer combination that covers bothsides of Ankle.

The System reproduce the free movements of the ankle region (eversion)(inversion) (dorsiflexion) and Plantar flexion, thanks to his elasticmembrane in the Aquilles tendon area of the rear shoe which enables afull flexibility movements, speed and comfort. The System its designedto integrate with construction of Sport shoes.

The plastic convex shell provides protection to the ankle region againstdirect impacts. The system construction absorbs the kinetic energy ofthe impact and distributes it equally over its surface with acombination of layered materials under its plastic convex form. Theplastic convex form construction covers and protects both sides of theathlete's ankle (specifically the fibular lateral Malleolar, the Tibialmedial Malleolar articulations and Talofibula ligaments) against impactsproduced during the practice specific of sports such as Soccer,Football, Baseball, Skateboard and Skating.

TECHNICAL DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

Page 1

-   A. Protection Shell for the ankle (Material Cut)-   B. Flexible Membrane, Movement Parameters.-   C. Elastic Band or Velcro holds the System in Position-   D. PP Pivot Point-   Version.1A. 1. Plastic shell, 2. Textile fabric or leader 3.    Eva+cushion foam, 4. Gel or air Capsule, 5. Cushioned textile    fabric.-   Version.2A. 1. Plastic shell, 2. Textile fabric or leader, 3.    Eva+cushion foam, 4. Cushioned textile fabric.

Page 2

-   A. Rear View. Protection Plastic Shelf for the ankle in both sides.-   B. Rear View. Detail of the flexible membrane.-   C. Front View. Velcro ensures a stable holding around the ankle.

FIG. 1. Second version of the system without the central membrane.

-   -   The system keeps movement parameters with two pivots points PP.

Page 3

-   A. Protection Shelf for the ankle (plastic)-   B. The strap wraps around the ankle to ensure stability.-   C. System Material Base form that put together all elements (Nylon,    Polyester, Leader, Textiles fabrics)-   D. Flexible membrane is the join element between Protection system    and the shoe. (Foam, flexi plastic formula, leader, silicon or    rubber)-   E. Free movement area between system and Shoe. Version 1

FIG. 2. Independent footwear system with combination of elements(A,B,C).

Page 4

-   A. Protection Shelf for the ankle (plastic)-   B. The strap wraps around the ankle to ensure stability.-   C. System Material Base form that put together all elements (Nylon,    Polyester, Leader, Textiles fabrics)-   D. The Flexible Membrane is the join Element of the system (works    together with the “w” form construction).-   F. The “W Form” construction integrates the complete system to the    shoe form without losing lateral flexibility in the ankle area    Version 2

Page 5

-   A. Perspective View ¾ front. Functionality-   B. Perspective View ¾ rear. Functionality

Page 6

-   A. Top View. The Convex form of system shelf guards the ankle from    different attack angles.-   B. The Velcro Strap Guarantee a stable holding to the ankle and free    of movement.-   C. The Impact Protection System guard the ankle from impacts or    objects coming from different directions.

1. An ankle Protection system specific construction, with the capabilityof giving protection to the ankle area from impacts in the practice ofcontact sports and others, which is conform by two exterior plasticshells place over both sides of the foot ankle respectively. Where eachshell has a variety of cushion layers, which are stitched to a materialbase form (leader or textile fabric). A Nylon (or other) strap thatconnects both sides of the construction, stitched to material base formand meet in a central front of the foot specifically above the (FlexorDigitorum Longus tendon) which adjust, tight up or liberates theconstruction. A flexible membrane that is attached at the lower area ofthe material base form, placed an a appropriate position over theAquilles tendon area of the construction, which represent the joinelement between construction and the shoe, as shown in drawings page 3,4, 5 and described in (Specifications) pag 5-6. Technical DrawingsDescription. pag 3, 4 and
 5. 2. A innovative elastic membrane with aspecific horizontal ribs construction positioned over the Aquillestendon area of the rear shoe which is the join element betweenProtection system and the shoe and enables a full flexibility movement.As shown in drawings B page 1 and B page 2 and described in.(Specifications) pag 4-5. Technical Drawings Description. pag 1 and 2.3. A construction possibilities that can be used to form the system ismade of six 6 basic elements: A,B,C,D,E,F. The system can be eitherbuild with all elements together or without some of them in thefollowing combinations: (A,B,C,D,E) (A,B,C,D,F) (A,B,C,D) (A,B,C)(A,C,D) (A,C,D,E) (A,C,D,F) (A,B,C,E) (A,B,C,F) (A,C,E) (A,C,F) (A,C).As shown in drawings page 3 and 4 and here described. These elementsconstruction characteristics are described in claim
 5. 4. Elementsconstruction characteristics: A. A Protection Plastic shell constructedwith a variety of materials (ABC, Kevlar, Polyethylene, Polypropylene,resins, or others) with specific layers of cushion textile materialsunder its convex form are attached to a base material by stitching orglue. The system is built with following versions materials orcombinations of them. Version 1A, and Version 2A, as shown in drawingspage 1 and described in (Specifications) page
 4. Technical DrawingsDescription. pag 1 B. A (Nylon or other) strap specific construction,which is integrated to the system material base form, and is able toadjust, tight up or liberates the construction. The strap is made of asandwich construction of (Velcro stitched to: nylon or elastic band orpolyester band, cushion foams and textile fabrics) in the specific orderhere described. The strap wraps around the lower part of the Tibia andFibula bones, giving grip and stability to the system as shown indrawings page 1, 2 and
 5. C. System Material Base construction form(Nylon, Polyester, or Leader) that hold together all elements of thesystem as shown in drawings page 4 and 5, and described in(Specifications) pag
 5. Technical Drawings Description. pag
 3. D. TheFlexible membrane construction materials made with a combination oflayers of (flexi plastic formula or rubber silicones, cushion foam, andtextile fibers) in the specific order here described from outside to theinside. E. Free movement area between system and shoe. Version 1, asshown in drawings page 3 and described in (Specifications) pag 5.Technical Drawings Description. pag
 3. F.—The “W stitched Form”—Version2, construction that integrates the complete system to the Shoe withoutlosing the lateral flexibility in the ankle area as shown in drawingspage 4 and described in (Specifications) pag 5-6. Technical DrawingsDescription. pag
 4. 5. A system designed to integrate with footwear(Sport shoes) as shown in drawing pages (2,3,4,5), that can be alsoproduced as a separate Independent footwear system with combination ofelements (A,B,C) as shown in drawings page 3 FIG. 2 and described in(Specifications) pag
 5. Technical Drawings Description. pag 3
 6. Asecond version of the flexible membrane, that eliminates the centralmembrane leaving a open central hole with the same border form, so thedesign will still keep the movement parameters as shown in drawings Band PP page 1, using the two side remaining pivot points, as shown inFIG.
 1. Page 2 and described in (Specifications) page 4-5. TechnicalDrawings Description. Page 1 and
 2. 7. Further Comprising claim 1, ANylon (or other material) strap that connects both sides of theconstruction, stitched to material base form and meet in a central backof the foot specifically over the (Aquilles tendon area), which adjust,tight up or liberates the construction. This construction extentparallel from the back to the front of the shoe covering both ankles andintegrates with shoe tong (Version 3). The construction uses the basicelements of the system as shown in the in drawings page 3 and describedin (Specifications) pag. 5, Technical Drawings Description. Pag. 3